US East Coast offshore wind energy resources and their relationship to peak‐time electricity demand

Abstract

This study characterized the annual mean US East Coast (USEC) offshore wind energy (OWE) resource on the basis of 5 years of high‐resolution mesoscale model (Weather Research and Forecasting–Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting) results at 90 m height. Model output was evaluated against 23 buoys and nine offshore towers. Peak‐time electrical demand was analyzed to determine if OWE resources were coincident with the increased grid load. The most suitable locations for large‐scale development of OWE were prescribed, on the basis of the wind resource, bathymetry, hurricane risk and peak‐time generation potential. The offshore region from Virginia to Maine was found to have the most exceptional overall resource with annual turbine capacity factors (CF) between 40% and 50%, shallow water and low hurricane risk. The best summer resource during peak time, in water of ≤ 50 m depth, is found between Long Island, New York and Cape Cod, Massachusetts, due in part to regional upwelling, which often strengthens the sea breeze. In the South US region, the waters off North Carolina have adequate wind resource and shallow bathymetry but high hurricane risk. Overall, the resource from Florida to Maine out to 200 m depth, with the use of turbine CF cutoffs of 45% and 40%, is 965–1372 TWh (110–157 GW average). About one‐third of US or all of Florida to Maine electric demand can technically be provided with the use of USEC OWE. With the exception of summer, all peak‐time demand for Virginia to Maine can be satisfied with OWE in the waters off those states. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Effects of sea surface temperature accuracy on offshore wind resource assessment using a mesoscale model

“…2 In addition to the research and development of such wind turbines, offshore wind resource assessment techniques based on satellite remote sensing 3,4 and mesoscale meteorological models [5][6][7][8] that are less dependent on in situ measurements have also been studied to reduce the technical and financial constraints of siting meteorological observation masts offshore.…”

“…As offshore wind power generation is rapidly extending all over the world, 1 feasibility studies not only on the bottom-fixed wind turbines in shallow water but also on the floating wind turbines in deep water have been conducted. 2 In addition to the research and development of such wind turbines, offshore wind resource assessment techniques based on satellite remote sensing 3,4 and mesoscale meteorological models [5][6][7][8] that are less dependent on in situ measurements have also been studied to reduce the technical and financial constraints of siting meteorological observation masts offshore. Mesoscale meteorological models are a promising tool for regional-scale site assessments, 9 since they can simulate offshore wind fields with high spatial and temporal resolutions while taking into account large and local-scale meteorological phenomena by using objective analyses for their boundary conditions.…”

“…Peña et al 7 made an offshore wind atlas of the Baltic Sea using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. 11 In addition, Dvorak et al 8 analyzed the relationship between offshore wind energy resources and peak-time electricity demand using the results of a 5-year WRF simulation.…”

Achieving a cost-competitive offshore wind power industry

“…24 Source: (Dvorak et al, 2013). 25 (Dvorak et al, 2013). 26 According to a 2013 Stanford University study on wind resources and correlation with peak demand hours.…”

“…26 According to a 2013 Stanford University study on wind resources and correlation with peak demand hours. (Dvorak et al, 2013). 27 Offshore transmission cables can eliminate the burden of building new terrestrial cables; this has been shown to be a limiting factor for land-based wind turbines.…”